Taiwan receives the first batch of M142 HIMARS from the US

According to a report by CNA on November 4, 2024, Taiwan received its first batch of M142 HIMARS from the United States. Military sources indicate that the initial units arrived in October 2024 and are currently undergoing installation and operational training at the 58th Artillery Command. The delivery is part of a broader procurement of 29 HIMARS units initiated to meet Taiwan's defense needs in key areas and strengthen its long-range precision strike capability.

Taiwan initially planned to purchase 11 HIMARS units in 2020, but expanded its order to 18 additional units in 2022 after deciding not to purchase an additional 40 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers. This adjustment brings the order total to 29 HIMARS, with full delivery expected by 2026. Military sources note that the first batch of 11 units is planned to be deployed between late 2024 and early 2025. The total cost of the 29 HIMARS is US$1.06 billion, including 84 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 kilometers and 864 guided missile multiple launch systems (GMLRS), enhancing Taiwan's precision targeting capability.

To support the integration of HIMARS and establish a team of instructors to train additional personnel in-country, funds were allocated in Taiwan's 2024 defense budget to send 30 personnel to the United States for operational training. In August, 17 soldiers completed a three-week training course at Fort Sill, Okla., where they learned the technical skills to operate the HIMARS system after it arrived in Taiwan.

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The M142 HIMARS launcher can deploy six missiles or a single missile MGM-140 ATACMS on the launcher, with missiles reaching a range of 42 kilometers, while the MGM-140 missile extends this range to 300 kilometers and can reach an altitude of 50 kilometers, covering significant distances, including areas across the Taiwan Strait.

Defense expert Su Jiyun of Taiwan's National Defense Strategy and Resources Research Institute noted that the inclusion of HIMARS expands Taiwan's munitions range, which currently includes missiles with a range of 50 to 70 kilometers for regional augmentation and the MGM-140 missile with its 300- kilometer range. A Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) with a potential range of nearly 500 kilometers could also be considered in the future, joining Taiwan with the United States as a member of the "300-kilometer club".

The delivery of the M142 HIMARS system improves the capability Taiwan to target critical military facilities along China's southeastern coast, potentially deterring or disrupting preparations for amphibious assaults. Its mobility allows it to move quickly, adding complexity to China's operational planning by increasing the unpredictability and agility of Taiwan's defenses. In addition, HIMARS complements Taiwan's existing arsenal, including the Thunder 2000 multiple-launch missile system, to support a structured multi-layered defense in key areas.